Types of Cancer With the Highest Mortality Rates

Cancer is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States. Though there are many things you can do to decrease your risk, some of the deadliest types aren’t easy to treat once you have them. Here are those types with high death rates (including the cancer with the highest death rate on page 8), and some of their biggest risk factors.

Kidney cancer

Taking pain medications for a long period of time can increase your chances of developing kidney cancer. | iStock.com/HYWARDS

In 2014, 13,917 people died as a result of different types of kidney cancer. Taking certain pain medications for a long period of time and having high blood pressure, or taking medications to treat high blood pressure, increase your risk.

Next: This often progresses without symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose.